Body found in hunt for missing York woman

Mandy Bishop, 34, from York, was reported missing by a family friend on Saturday afternoon.

It is thought Miss Bishop, who lived with and cared for her 66-year-old mother Valerie Bishop, may have been missing from their home since March 22.

Officers discovered traces of her blood inside the family home and expressed fears for her safety, in light of previous threats she had made to harm herself.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police confirmed a body was recovered from the River Ouse this morning.

Police had been conducting searches in and around Miss Bishop's Skeldergate home, while an underwater search unit has been scouring sections of the River Ouse.

The body was recovered from the river close to Skeldergate Bridge at 11.30am today, a police spokesman said. A formal identification is yet to be made.

Miss Bishop suffered from agoraphobia and had not left her home for around 13 years. Some neighbours were even unaware she lived at the property until the police investigation.

Officers yesterday appealed for any delivery drivers who were working in the Bishopgate Street area on March 22 to contact them.

Detective Chief Inspector Helen Taylor, the senior investigating officer in the case, said: "Although Mandy has threatened self-harm in the past, we still very much believe her disappearance is out of character. Mandy is also the sole carer for her seriously ill mother Valerie and, as a big animal lover, she also looks after their four dogs.

"Ideally we would really like to speak to any drivers or delivery companies that had jobs on or near Bishopgate Street on March 22.

"If not the drivers themselves, then we urge anyone who recalls seeing any deliveries to come forward to help.

"We are hoping any new information will allow us to build a clearer picture of Mandy's movements that day which will help our search for her."